Police Pursuit Of Stolen Vehicle Ends In Fairfield: Westport PD

WESTPORT, CT — Police said officers arrested three suspects, two of which were juveniles, after leading officers on a pursuit in a vehicle that had been reported stolen. Officers recovered two handgun magazines, numerous debit/credit cards and several car keys to other vehicles during a subsequent search of the vehicle, police said.

According to a news release, Corporal Kevin Smith observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed Monday at approximately 3:15 a.m. in the area of 877 Post Road East. He followed the vehicle and noticed it stopped in the middle of the Post Road at the intersection of Long Lots Road with no tail lights illuminated, police said.

Smith caught up to the vehicle and saw it make a quick wide turn onto Roseville Road into the opposite lane of traffic. A registration check for the vehicle showed it had been stolen out of Darien on Sept. 19, police said.

According to police, Smith attempted to stop the vehicle but the driver did not yield and engaged the officer in pursuit. The suspect vehicle led officers northbound on Roseville before it turned to travel eastbound on Cross Highway, then continued onto Congress Street in Fairfield.

Fairfield police assisted and deployed stop sticks ahead of the vehicle on Congress Street, which it struck. Police said the pursuit continued until the vehicle crashed into a utility pole on Towne House Road, where the driver subsequently fled on foot.

Police said the driver was arrested after a brief foot pursuit with assistance from a Westport K-9, and two juvenile passengers were detained by Fairfield officers.

Police said the two 15-year-old passengers, both from Waterbury, were transported to St. Vincent's Hospital for minor injuries. They were each issued a summons charging them with larceny and conspiracy to commit larceny, police said.

According to police, the driver was identified as Jomar Perez, 18, of Waterbury. He was transported to St Vincent’s by Fairfield police due to minor injuries sustained as a result of the K-9 bite, police said.

"During a search of the vehicle, two loaded 9mm handgun magazines were located in the driver’s side door pocket," Lieutenant Jillian Cabana said in a release. "Numerous debit/credit cards and several car keys to other vehicles were also located during the search. The vehicle and surrounding area were searched, but no firearm has been recovered."

Police said Perez was transported to Westport headquarters after being released from the hospital, where he was charged with two counts of risk of injury, interfering with an officer, larceny: motor vehicle theft and conspiracy to commit larceny. The accused was additionally charged with disobeying the signal of an officer: elude/attempt escape, reckless driving: not greater than 85 mph and operating a motor vehicle without a license, police said.

"Fairfield County has been plagued by car thefts and motor vehicle burglaries for the last year," Cabana said. "Despite multiple warnings, we continue to be a target rich environment because residents leave their cars unlocked with their car keys and other valuables inside. We urge residents to remove their belongings and secure their vehicles properly at night. Multiple firearms have been recovered from suspects in these crimes and from within the stolen motor vehicles."

According to Cabana, residents should not confront any suspects themselves and are asked to instead notify the police department immediately if they observe suspicious vehicles and activity in their neighborhoods.

To sign up for Fairfield breaking news alerts and more, click here.

Photo credit: Shutterstock